no QUESTIONS PROPER rOR STUDENTS IN DIVINITY. difficulty, danger and trouble, in the things of this lire, a well as the life to come ? Do I attend upon reading, or hearing, the word of God, and good books? Do I always think over again, and recollect what I have heard, that I may fix it in my memory, and impress it more upon my heart? Do I make it my business to pray over the things, which I hear or read, and so to profit by sermons and by reading ? Here thenext enquiry will be about repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ ? What is faith, or believing in Christ ? Here the answer will be, according to the instructions that persons have had, or according to the various expressions, in the word o God. This faith in Christ includes in it, or is ex- pressed by " coming to Christ that we may be saved, receiving of Christ as he is offered in the gospel, or accepting of him un- der his various characters and offices, as Prophet, Priest, King, Example, a Head or Spring of spiritual life, &c. trusting in him, resigning ourselves to him, giving up our souls into his hands, committing ourselves to him," that we may be accepted of God through his obedience and sufferings, and,sanctified by his grace, and preserved to his kingdom of glory : In all which the young christian may examine himself, whether he has re- ceived Christ by faith ? What is repentance toward God ? and am I a true penitent for my sins. What arethe signs or evidences, or the effects of true faith and sincere repentance ? Now, under these signs or effects of faith and repentance, will come in the various christian virtues or graces, viz. 46 Love to God, love to our Lord Jesus Christ, love to all the saints, shame and sorrow, and self-abhorrence because of sin ; a hatred of all sin, a holy fear to displease God, zeal for God and for Jesus Christ in the world, a desire to please God, in all things, and topractise every duty both towards God and men, sincere delight in the ways and worship of God, desires and endeavours after universal holiness in heart and life, sub- mission to the will of God in life and death, and a humble hope of salvation." Have I any reasonable ground to hope that these christian virtues,. or graces are wrought in me ? Have I found the exer- cise of them on proper occasions ? Or whence do I hope to attain them, or any further degrees of them ? Here will come in the doctrine of the Spirit of God, and his operations. how must I obtain the influences or aids of this Spirit 1
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